1
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Yousuf B, Pasha R, Pineault N, Ramirez-Arcos S. Modulation of Staphylococcus aureus gene expression during proliferation in platelet concentrates with focus on virulence and platelet functionality. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307920. [PMID: 39052660 PMCID: PMC11271859 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a well-documented bacterial contaminant in platelet concentrates (PCs), a blood component used to treat patients with platelet deficiencies. This bacterium can evade routine PC culture screening and cause septic transfusion reactions. Here, we investigated the gene expression modulation within the PC niche versus trypticase soy media (TSB) of S. aureus CBS2016-05, a strain isolated from a septic reaction, in comparison to PS/BAC/317/16/W, a strain identified during PC screening. RNA-seq analysis revealed upregulation of the capsule biosynthesis operon (capA-H), surface adhesion factors (sasADF), clumping factor A (clfA), protein A (spa), and anaerobic metabolism genes (pflAB, nrdDG) in CBS2016-05 when grown in PCs versus TSB, implying its enhanced pathogenicity in this milieu, in contrast to the PS/BAC/317/16/W strain. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of S. aureus CBS2016-05 on platelet functionality in spiked PCs versus non-spiked PC units. Flow cytometry analyses revealed a significant decrease in glycoprotein (GP) IIb (CD41) and GPIbα (CD42b) expression, alongside increased P-selectin (CD62P) and phosphatidylserine (annexin V) expression in spiked PCs compared to non-spiked PCs (p = 0.01). Moreover, spiked PCs exhibited a drastic reduction in MitoTrack Red FM and Calcein AM positive platelets (87.3% vs. 29.4%, p = 0.0001 and 95.4% vs. 24.7%, p = 0.0001) in a bacterial cell density manner. These results indicated that S. aureus CBS2016-05 triggers platelet activation and apoptosis, and compromises mitochondrial functionality and platelet viability, in contaminated PCs. Furthermore, this study enhanced our understanding of the effects of platelet-bacteria interactions in the unique PC niche, highlighting S. aureus increased pathogenicity and deleterious effect on platelet functionality in a strain specific manner. Our novel insights serve as a platform to improve PC transfusion safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basit Yousuf
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Roya Pasha
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pineault
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Sandra Ramirez-Arcos
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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2
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Schilcher K, Severn MM, Jenul C, Avina YSC, Keogh RA, Horswill AR. The Staphylococcus aureus CamS lipoprotein is a repressor of toxin production that shapes host-pathogen interaction. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002451. [PMID: 38180978 PMCID: PMC10769083 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipoproteins of the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus play a crucial role in various cellular processes and host interactions. Consisting of a protein and a lipid moiety, they support nutrient acquisition and anchor the protein to the bacterial membrane. Recently, we identified several processed and secreted small linear peptides that derive from the secretion signal sequence of S. aureus lipoproteins. Here, we show, for the first time, that the protein moiety of the S. aureus lipoprotein CamS has a biological role that is distinct from its associated linear peptide staph-cAM373. The small peptide was shown to be involved in interspecies horizontal gene transfer, the primary mechanism for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance among bacteria. We provide evidence that the CamS protein moiety is a potent repressor of cytotoxins, such as α-toxin and leukocidins. The CamS-mediated suppression of toxin transcription was reflected by altered disease severity in in vivo infection models involving skin and soft tissue, as well as bloodstream infections. Collectively, we have uncovered the role of the protein moiety of the staphylococcal lipoprotein CamS as a previously uncharacterized repressor of S. aureus toxin production, which consequently regulates virulence and disease outcomes. Notably, the camS gene is conserved in S. aureus, and we also demonstrated the muted transcriptional response of cytotoxins in 2 different S. aureus lineages. Our findings provide the first evidence of distinct biological functions of the protein moiety and its associated linear peptide for a specific lipoprotein. Therefore, lipoproteins in S. aureus consist of 3 functional components: a lipid moiety, a protein moiety, and a small linear peptide, with putative different biological roles that might not only determine the outcome of host-pathogen interactions but also drive the acquisition of antibiotic resistance determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Schilcher
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Morgan M. Severn
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Christian Jenul
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Young-Saeng C. Avina
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Rebecca A. Keogh
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Alexander R. Horswill
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
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3
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Zhu Z, Hu Z, Li S, Fang R, Ono HK, Hu DL. Molecular Characteristics and Pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus Exotoxins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:395. [PMID: 38203566 PMCID: PMC10778951 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus stands as one of the most pervasive pathogens given its morbidity and mortality worldwide due to its roles as an infectious agent that causes a wide variety of diseases ranging from moderately severe skin infections to fatal pneumonia and sepsis. S. aureus produces a variety of exotoxins that serve as important virulence factors in S. aureus-related infectious diseases and food poisoning in both humans and animals. For example, staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) produced by S. aureus induce staphylococcal foodborne poisoning; toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), as a typical superantigen, induces toxic shock syndrome; hemolysins induce cell damage in erythrocytes and leukocytes; and exfoliative toxin induces staphylococcal skin scalded syndrome. Recently, Panton-Valentine leucocidin, a cytotoxin produced by community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA), has been reported, and new types of SEs and staphylococcal enterotoxin-like toxins (SEls) were discovered and reported successively. This review addresses the progress of and novel insights into the molecular structure, biological activities, and pathogenicity of both the classic and the newly identified exotoxins produced by S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Zhu
- Department of Zoonoses, Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, Towada 034-8628, Japan; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.K.O.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Zuo Hu
- Department of Zoonoses, Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, Towada 034-8628, Japan; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.K.O.)
| | - Shaowen Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Rendong Fang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Animal Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China;
| | - Hisaya K. Ono
- Department of Zoonoses, Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, Towada 034-8628, Japan; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.K.O.)
| | - Dong-Liang Hu
- Department of Zoonoses, Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, Towada 034-8628, Japan; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.K.O.)
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4
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Jiang JH, Cameron DR, Nethercott C, Aires-de-Sousa M, Peleg AY. Virulence attributes of successful methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus lineages. Clin Microbiol Rev 2023; 36:e0014822. [PMID: 37982596 PMCID: PMC10732075 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00148-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading cause of severe and often fatal infections. MRSA epidemics have occurred in waves, whereby a previously successful lineage has been replaced by a more fit and better adapted lineage. Selection pressures in both hospital and community settings are not uniform across the globe, which has resulted in geographically distinct epidemiology. This review focuses on the mechanisms that trigger the establishment and maintenance of current, dominant MRSA lineages across the globe. While the important role of antibiotic resistance will be mentioned throughout, factors which influence the capacity of S. aureus to colonize and cause disease within a host will be the primary focus of this review. We show that while MRSA possesses a diverse arsenal of toxins including alpha-toxin, the success of a lineage involves more than just producing toxins that damage the host. Success is often attributed to the acquisition or loss of genetic elements involved in colonization and niche adaptation such as the arginine catabolic mobile element, as well as the activity of regulatory systems, and shift metabolism accordingly (e.g., the accessory genome regulator, agr). Understanding exactly how specific MRSA clones cause prolonged epidemics may reveal targets for therapies, whereby both core (e.g., the alpha toxin) and acquired virulence factors (e.g., the Panton-Valentine leukocidin) may be nullified using anti-virulence strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhih-Hang Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David R. Cameron
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cara Nethercott
- Department of Microbiology, Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marta Aires-de-Sousa
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institutode Tecnologia Químicae Biológica António Xavier (ITQB-NOVA), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Escola Superior de Saúde da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa-Lisboa (ESSCVP-Lisboa), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anton Y. Peleg
- Department of Microbiology, Infection Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact Antimicrobial Resistance, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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5
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Wang Q, Nurxat N, Zhang L, Liu Y, Wang Y, Zhang L, Zhao N, Dai Y, Jian Y, He L, Wang H, Bae T, Li M, Liu Q. Diabetes mellitus promotes the nasal colonization of high virulent Staphylococcus aureus through the regulation of SaeRS two-component system. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2276335. [PMID: 37882148 PMCID: PMC10796126 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2276335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic foot infections are a common complication of diabetes. Staphylococcus aureus is frequently isolated from diabetic foot infections and commonly colonizes human nares. According to the study, the nasal microbiome analysis revealed that diabetic patients had a significantly altered nasal microbial composition and diversity. Typically, the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level had an impact on the abundance and sequence type (ST) of S. aureus in diabetic patients. We observed that highly virulent S. aureus ST7 strains were more frequently colonized in diabetic patients, especially those with poorly controlled FBG, while ST59 was dominant in healthy individuals. S. aureus ST7 strains were more resistant to human antimicrobial peptides and formed stronger biofilms than ST59 strains. Critically, S. aureus ST7 strains displayed higher virulence compared to ST59 strains in vivo. The dominance of S. aureus ST7 strains in hyperglycemic environment is due to the higher activity of the SaeRS two-component system (TCS). S. aureus ST7 strains outcompeted ST59 both in vitro, and in nasal colonization model in diabetic mice, which was abolished by the deletion of the SaeRS TCS. Our data indicated that highly virulent S. aureus strains preferentially colonize diabetic patients with poorly controlled FBG through SaeRS TCS. Detection of S. aureus colonization and elimination of colonizing S. aureus are critical in the care of diabetic patients with high FBG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qichen Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Nadira Nurxat
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Na Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yingxin Dai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Jian
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Taeok Bae
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Northwest, Gary, IN, USA
| | - Min Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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6
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Houtak G, Bouras G, Nepal R, Shaghayegh G, Cooksley C, Psaltis AJ, Wormald PJ, Vreugde S. The intra-host evolutionary landscape and pathoadaptation of persistent Staphylococcus aureus in chronic rhinosinusitis. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001128. [PMID: 38010322 PMCID: PMC10711304 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common chronic sinonasal mucosal inflammation associated with Staphylococcus aureus biofilm and relapsing infections. This study aimed to determine rates of S. aureus persistence and pathoadaptation in CRS patients by investigating the genomic relatedness and antibiotic resistance/tolerance in longitudinally collected S. aureus clinical isolates. A total of 68 S. aureus paired isolates (34 pairs) were sourced from 34 CRS patients at least 6 months apart. Isolates were grown into 48 h biofilms and tested for tolerance to antibiotics. A hybrid sequencing strategy was used to obtain high-quality reference-grade assemblies of all isolates. Single nucleotide variants (SNV) divergence in the core genome and sequence type clustering were used to analyse the relatedness of the isolate pairs. Single nucleotide and structural genome variations, plasmid similarity, and plasmid copy numbers between pairs were examined. Our analysis revealed that 41 % (14/34 pairs) of S. aureus isolates were persistent, while 59 % (20/34 pairs) were non-persistent. Persistent isolates showed episode-specific mutational changes over time with a bias towards events in genes involved in adhesion to the host and mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, prophages, and insertion sequences. Furthermore, a significant increase in the copy number of conserved plasmids of persistent strains was observed. This was accompanied by a significant increase in biofilm tolerance against all tested antibiotics, which was linked to a significant increase in biofilm biomass over time, indicating a potential biofilm pathoadaptive process in persistent isolates. In conclusion, our study provides important insights into the mutational changes during S. aureus persistence in CRS patients highlighting potential pathoadaptive mechanisms in S. aureus persistent isolates culminating in increased biofilm biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghais Houtak
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - George Bouras
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Roshan Nepal
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Gohar Shaghayegh
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Clare Cooksley
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Alkis James Psaltis
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Peter-John Wormald
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sarah Vreugde
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- The Department of Surgery - Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Adelaide and the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
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7
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Pineda APA, Cueva CLR, Chacón RD, Ramírez M, de Almeida OGG, de Oliveira DP, Franco BDGM, Lacorte G, Landgraf M, Silva NCC, Pinto UM. Genomic characterization of Staphylococcus aureus from Canastra Minas Artisanal Cheeses. Braz J Microbiol 2023; 54:2103-2116. [PMID: 37594655 PMCID: PMC10485191 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01099-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Canastra Minas Artisanal Cheese is produced in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais using raw milk, rennet, and pingo, a natural endogenous starter culture (fermented whey) collected from the previous day's production. Due to the use of raw milk, the product can carry microorganisms that may cause foodborne diseases (FBD), including Staphylococcus aureus. Genomic characterization of S. aureus is an important tool to assess diversity, virulence, antimicrobial resistance, and the potential for causing food poisoning due to enterotoxin production. This study is aimed at exploring the genomic features of S. aureus strains isolated from Canastra Minas Artisanal Cheeses. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) classified these strains as ST1, ST5, and a new profile ST7849 (assigned to the clonal complex CC97). These strains belonged to four spa types: t008, t127, t359, and t992. We identified antimicrobial resistance genes with phenotypic correlation against methicillin (MRSA) and tetracycline. Virulome analysis revealed genes associated with iron uptake, immune evasion, and potential capacity for adherence and biofilm formation. The toxigenic potential included cyto- and exotoxins genes, and all strains presented the genes that encode for Panton-Valentine toxin and hemolysin, and two strains encoded 4 and 8 Staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) genes. The results revealed the pathogenic potential of the evaluated S. aureus strains circulating in the Canastra region, representing a potential risk to public health. This study also provides useful information to monitor and guide the application of control measures to the artisanal dairy food production chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana P Arellano Pineda
- Food Research Center, Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Carmen L Rodríguez Cueva
- Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, 15021, Peru
| | - Ruy D Chacón
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando M. Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Manuel Ramírez
- Faculty of Science and Health, Peruvian University of Applied Sciences-UPC, Prolongación Primavera 2390, Santiago de Surco, Lima, 15023, Peru
| | - Otávio G G de Almeida
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida Do Café, S/N, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Débora P de Oliveira
- Food Research Center, Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Bernadette D G M Franco
- Food Research Center, Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Lacorte
- Federal Institute of Minas Gerais - Campus Bambuí, Bambuí, MG, 30575-180, Brazil
| | - Mariza Landgraf
- Food Research Center, Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Cristina Cirone Silva
- Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Uelinton Manoel Pinto
- Food Research Center, Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
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8
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Pivard M, Caldelari I, Brun V, Croisier D, Jaquinod M, Anzala N, Gilquin B, Teixeira C, Benito Y, Couzon F, Romby P, Moreau K, Vandenesch F. Complex Regulation of Gamma-Hemolysin Expression Impacts Staphylococcus aureus Virulence. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0107323. [PMID: 37347186 PMCID: PMC10434192 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01073-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus gamma-hemolysin CB (HlgCB) is a core-genome-encoded pore-forming toxin that targets the C5a receptor, similar to the phage-encoded Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL). Absolute quantification by mass spectrometry of HlgCB in 39 community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) isolates showed considerable variations in the HlgC and HlgB yields between isolates. Moreover, although HlgC and HlgB are encoded on a single operon, their levels were dissociated in 10% of the clinical strains studied. To decipher the molecular basis for the variation in hlgCB expression and protein production among strains, different regulation levels were analyzed in representative clinical isolates and reference strains. Both the HlgCB level and the HlgC/HlgB ratio were found to depend on hlgC promoter activity and mRNA processing and translation. Strikingly, only one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of hlgCB mRNA strongly impaired hlgC translation in the USA300 strain, leading to a strong decrease in the level of HlgC but not in HlgB. Finally, we found that high levels of HlgCB synthesis led to mortality in a rabbit model of pneumonia, correlated with the implication of the role of HlgCB in severe S. aureus CAP. Taken together, this work illustrates the complexity of virulence factor expression in clinical strains and demonstrates a butterfly effect where subtle genomic variations have a major impact on phenotype and virulence. IMPORTANCE S. aureus virulence in pneumonia results in its ability to produce several virulence factors, including the leucocidin PVL. Here, we demonstrate that HlgCB, another leucocidin, which targets the same receptors as PVL, highly contributes to S. aureus virulence in pvl-negative strains. In addition, considerable variations in HlgCB quantities are observed among clinical isolates from patients with CAP. Biomolecular analyses have revealed that a few SNPs in the promoter sequences and only one SNP in the 5' UTR of hlgCB mRNA induce the differential expression of hlgCB, drastically impacting hlgC mRNA translation. This work illustrates the subtlety of regulatory mechanisms in bacteria, especially the sometimes major effects on phenotypes of single nucleotide variation in noncoding regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariane Pivard
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Isabelle Caldelari
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMC, Strasbourg, France
| | - Virginie Brun
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CEA, UMR BioSanté U1292, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, Clinatec, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Michel Jaquinod
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CEA, UMR BioSanté U1292, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Benoît Gilquin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CEA, UMR BioSanté U1292, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, Clinatec, Grenoble, France
| | - Chloé Teixeira
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Yvonne Benito
- Institut des Agents Infectieux, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Florence Couzon
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Pascale Romby
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMC, Strasbourg, France
| | - Karen Moreau
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - François Vandenesch
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université de Lyon, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Institut des Agents Infectieux, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
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9
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Alanko I, Sandberg R, Brockmann E, de Haas CJC, van Strijp JAG, Lamminmäki U, Salo‐Ahen OMH. Isolation and functional analysis of phage-displayed antibody fragments targeting the staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins. Microbiologyopen 2023; 12:e1371. [PMID: 37642487 PMCID: PMC10350561 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus produces numerous virulence factors that manipulate the immune system, helping the bacteria avoid phagocytosis. In this study, we are investigating three immune evasion molecules called the staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins 1, 5, and 10 (SSL1, SSL5, and SSL10). All three SSLs inhibit vital host immune processes and contribute to S. aureus immune evasion. This study aimed to identify single-chain variable fragment (scFvs) antibodies from synthetic antibody phage libraries, which can recognize either of the three SSLs and could block the interaction between the SSLs and their respective human targets. The antibodies were isolated after three rounds of panning against SSL1, SSL5, and SSL10, and their ability to bind to the SSLs was studied using a time-resolved fluorescence-based immunoassay. We successfully obtained altogether 44 unique clones displaying binding activity to either SSL1, SSL5, or SSL10. The capability of the SSL-recognizing scFvs to inhibit the SSLs' function was tested in an MMP9 enzymatic activity assay, a P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 competitive binding assay, and an IgG1-mediated phagocytosis assay. We could show that one scFv was able to inhibit SSL1 and maintain MMP9 activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, the structure of this inhibiting scFv was modeled and used to create putative scFv-SSL1-complex models by protein-protein docking. The complex models were subjected to a 100-ns molecular dynamics simulation to assess the possible binding mode of the antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Alanko
- Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory (Pharmacy) & Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory (Biochemistry) TurkuÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFinland
| | - Rebecca Sandberg
- Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory (Pharmacy) & Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory (Biochemistry) TurkuÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFinland
| | | | - Carla J. C. de Haas
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jos A. G. van Strijp
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Urpo Lamminmäki
- Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | - Outi M. H. Salo‐Ahen
- Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory (Pharmacy) & Structural Bioinformatics Laboratory (Biochemistry) TurkuÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFinland
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10
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Kasela M, Ossowski M, Dzikoń E, Ignatiuk K, Wlazło Ł, Malm A. The Epidemiology of Animal-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1079. [PMID: 37370398 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12061079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains an important etiological factor of human and animal infectious diseases, causing significant economic losses not only in human healthcare but also in the large-scale farming sector. The constantly changing epidemiology of MRSA observed globally affects animal welfare and raises concerns for public health. High MRSA colonization rates in livestock raise questions about the meaning of reservoirs and possible transmission pathways, while the prevalence of MRSA colonization and infection rates among companion animals vary and might affect human health in multiple ways. We present the main findings concerning the circulation of animal-associated MRSA (AA-MRSA) in the environment and factors influencing the direction, mechanisms, and routes of its transmission. Studies have shown it that S. aureus is a multi-host bacterial pathogen; however, its adaptation mechanisms enabling it to colonize and infect both animal and human hosts are still rarely discussed. Finally, we elaborate on the most successful strategies and programs applied limiting the circulation of AA-MRSA among animals and humans. Although MRSA strains colonizing animals rarely infect humans, they undergo host-adaptive evolution enabling them to spread and persist in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Kasela
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki Street 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Mateusz Ossowski
- Department of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Ewelina Dzikoń
- Student's Scientific Circle, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki Street 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ignatiuk
- Student's Scientific Circle, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki Street 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Łukasz Wlazło
- Department of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Malm
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki Street 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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11
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Zhou Y, Yu S, Su C, Gao S, Jiang G, Zhou Z, Li H. Molecular Characteristics of Methicillin-Resistant and Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus from Pediatric Patients in Eastern China. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040549. [PMID: 37111435 PMCID: PMC10146695 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes invasive infections in humans. In recent years, increasing studies have focused on the prevalence of S. aureus infections in adults; however, the epidemiology and molecular characteristics of S. aureus from Chinese pediatric patients remain unknown. The present study examined the population structure, antimicrobial resistance, and virulent factors of methicillin-resistant and -susceptible S. aureus isolated from Chinese pediatric patients from one medical center in eastern China. A total of 81 cases were screened with positive S. aureus infections among 864 pediatric patients between 2016 and 2022 in eastern China. Molecular analysis showed that ST22 (28.4%) and ST59 (13.6%) were the most typical strains, and associations between different clonal complex (CC) types/serotype types (ST) and the age of pediatric patients were observed in this study. CC398 was the predominant type in neonates under 1 month of age, while CC22 was mainly found in term-infant (under 1 year of age) and toddlers (over 1 year of age). Additionally, 17 S. aureus isolates were resistant to at least three antimicrobials and majority of them belonged to CC59. The blaZ gene was found in 59 isolates and mecA gene was present in 26 strains identified as methicillin-resistant. Numerous virulent factors were detected in S. aureus isolated from present pediatric patients. Remarkably, lukF-PV and lukS-PV were dominantly carried by CC22, tsst-1 genes were detected in CC188, CC7, and CC15, while exfoliative toxin genes were found only in CC121. Only 41.98% of the S. aureus isolates possessed scn gene, indicating that the sources of infections in pediatric patients may include both human-to-human transmissions as well as environmental and nosocomial infections. Together, the present study provided a phylogenetic and genotypic comparison of S. aureus from Chinese pediatric patients in Suzhou city. Our results suggested that the colonization of multi-drug resistant isolates of S. aureus may raise concern among pediatric patients, at least from the present medical center in eastern China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Zhou
- Pasteurien College, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shuyang Yu
- Pasteurien College, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Chenjun Su
- Pasteurien College, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shengqi Gao
- Pasteurien College, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Guilai Jiang
- Pasteurien College, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhemin Zhou
- Pasteurien College, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Heng Li
- Pasteurien College, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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12
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Guo Y, Yu X, Wang J, Hua D, You Y, Wu Q, Ji Q, Zhang J, Li L, Hu Y, Wu Z, Wei X, Jin L, Meng F, Yang Y, Hu X, Long L, Hu S, Qi H, Ma J, Bei W, Yan X, Wang H, He Z. A food poisoning caused by ST7 Staphylococcal aureus harboring sea gene in Hainan province, China. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1110720. [PMID: 37007521 PMCID: PMC10060626 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1110720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
ST7 Staphylococcus aureus is highly prevalent in humans, pigs, as well as food in China; however, staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) caused by this ST type has rarely been reported. On May 13, 2017, an SFP outbreak caused by ST7 S. aureus strains occurred in two campuses of a kindergarten in Hainan Province, China. We investigated the genomic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of ST7 SFP strains combined with the 91 ST7 food-borne strains from 12 provinces in China by performing whole-genome sequencing (WGS). There was clear phylogenetic clustering of seven SFP isolates. Six antibiotic genes including blaZ, ANT (4′)-Ib, tetK, lnuA, norA, and lmrS were present in all SFP strains and also showed a higher prevalence rate in 91 food-borne strains. A multiple resistance plasmid pDC53285 was present in SFP strain DC53285. Among 27 enterotoxin genes, only sea and selx were found in all SFP strains. A ФSa3int prophage containing type A immune evasion cluster (sea, scn, sak, and chp) was identified in SFP strain. In conclusion, we concluded that this SFP event was caused by the contamination of cakes with ST7 S. aureus. This study indicated the potential risk of new emergencing ST7 clone for SFP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Guo
- Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- Beijing Chaoyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojie Yu
- Hainan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou, China
| | - Jixiao Wang
- Hainan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou, China
| | - De Hua
- Hainan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou, China
| | - Yuanhai You
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Qingbo Wu
- Hainan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou, China
| | - Qinglong Ji
- Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing, China
| | - Jianzhong Zhang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Liefei Li
- Hainan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou, China
| | - Yuan Hu
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zhonghui Wu
- Hainan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou, China
| | - Xiaoyue Wei
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Lianqun Jin
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Fanliang Meng
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhua Yang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Hu
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Lijin Long
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Songnian Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Heyuan Qi
- Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juncai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenwen Bei
- Hainan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Haikou, China
| | - Xiaomei Yan
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaomei Yan,
| | - Haibin Wang
- Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China
- Beijing Chaoyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- Haibin Wang,
| | - Zilong He
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Interdisciplinary Innovation Institute of Medicine and Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China
- Zilong He,
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13
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Grazul M, Balcerczak E, Sienkiewicz M. Analysis of the Presence of the Virulence and Regulation Genes from Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus) in Coagulase Negative Staphylococci and the Influence of the Staphylococcal Cross-Talk on Their Functions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5155. [PMID: 36982064 PMCID: PMC10049693 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are increasingly becoming a public health issue worldwide due to their growing resistance to antibiotics and common involvement in complications related to invasive surgical procedures, and nosocomial and urinary tract infections. Their behavior either as a commensal or a pathogen is a result of strict regulation of colonization and virulence factors. Although functionality of virulence factors and processes involved in their regulation are quite well understood in S. aureus, little is known about them in CoNS species. Therefore, the aim of our studies was to check if clinical CoNS strains may contain virulence factors and genes involved in resistance to methicillin, that are homologous to S. aureus. Moreover, we checked the presence of elements responsible for regulation of genes that encode virulence factors typical for S. aureus in tested isolates. We also investigated whether the regulation factors produced by one CoNS isolate can affect virulence activity of other strains by co-incubation of tested isolates with supernatant from other isolates. Our studies confirmed the presence of virulence factor and regulatory genes attributed to S. aureus in CoNS isolates and indicated that one strain with an active agr gene is able to affect biofilm formation and δ-toxin activity of strains with inactive agr genes. The cognition of prevalence and regulation of virulence factors as well as antibiotic resistance of CoNS isolates is important for better control and treatment of CoNS infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Grazul
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Microbiological Diagnostics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1 Street, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewa Balcerczak
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Pharmacogenomics, Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1 Street, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
| | - Monika Sienkiewicz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Microbiological Diagnostics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1 Street, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
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14
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Tamminga SM, Völpel SL, Schipper K, Stehle T, Pannekoek Y, van Sorge NM. Genetic diversity of Staphylococcus aureus wall teichoic acid glycosyltransferases affects immune recognition. Microb Genom 2022; 8:mgen000902. [PMID: 36748528 PMCID: PMC9837562 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections and systemic infections. Wall teichoic acids (WTAs) are cell wall-anchored glycopolymers that are important for S. aureus nasal colonization, phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer, and antibiotic resistance. WTAs consist of a polymerized ribitol phosphate (RboP) chain that can be glycosylated with N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) by three glycosyltransferases: TarS, TarM, and TarP. TarS and TarP modify WTA with β-linked GlcNAc at the C-4 (β1,4-GlcNAc) and the C-3 position (β1,3-GlcNAc) of the RboP subunit, respectively, whereas TarM modifies WTA with α-linked GlcNAc at the C-4 position (α1,4-GlcNAc). Importantly, these WTA glycosylation patterns impact immune recognition and clearance of S. aureus. Previous studies suggest that tarS is near-universally present within the S. aureus population, whereas a smaller proportion co-contain either tarM or tarP. To gain more insight into the presence and genetic variation of tarS, tarM and tarP in the S. aureus population, we analysed a collection of 25 652 S. aureus genomes within the PubMLST database. Over 99 % of isolates contained tarS. Co-presence of tarS/tarM or tarS/tarP occurred in 37 and 7 % of isolates, respectively, and was associated with specific S. aureus clonal complexes. We also identified 26 isolates (0.1 %) that contained all three glycosyltransferase genes. At sequence level, we identified tar alleles with amino acid substitutions in critical enzymatic residues or with premature stop codons. Several tar variants were expressed in a S. aureus tar-negative strain. Analysis using specific monoclonal antibodies and human langerin showed that WTA glycosylation was severely attenuated or absent. Overall, our data provide a broad overview of the genetic diversity of the three WTA glycosyltransferases in the S. aureus population and the functional consequences for immune recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Tamminga
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Simon L. Völpel
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kim Schipper
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thilo Stehle
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany,Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Yvonne Pannekoek
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,*Correspondence: Nina M. van Sorge,
| | - Nina M. van Sorge
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,*Correspondence: Nina M. van Sorge,
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15
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Huber C, Wolf SA, Ziebuhr W, Holmes MA, Assmann J, Lübke-Becker A, Thürmer A, Semmler T, Brombach J, Bethe A, Bischoff M, Wieler LH, Epping L, Walther B. How to survive pig farming: Mechanism of SCC mec element deletion and metabolic stress adaptation in livestock-associated MRSA. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:969961. [PMID: 36504815 PMCID: PMC9728531 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.969961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research on methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) belonging to livestock-associated (LA-) sequence type (ST) 398, isolated from pigs and their local surroundings, indicated that differences between these MSSA and their methicillin resistant predecessors (MRSA) are often limited to the absence of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) and few single nucleotide polymorphisms. So far, our understanding on how LA-MRSA endure the environmental conditions associated with pig-farming as well as the putative impact of this particular environment on the mobilisation of SCCmec elements is limited. Thus, we performed in-depth genomic and transcriptomic analyses using the LA-MRSA ST398 strain IMT38951 and its methicillin susceptible descendant. We identified a mosaic-structured SCCmec region including a putative replicative SCCmecVc which is absent from the MSSA chromosome through homologous recombination. Based on our data, such events occur between short repetitive sequences identified within and adjacent to two distinct alleles of the large cassette recombinase genes C (ccrC). We further evaluated the global transcriptomic response of MRSA ST398 to particular pig-farm associated conditions, i.e., contact with host proteins (porcine serum) and a high ammonia concentration. Differential expression of global regulators involved in stress response control were identified, i.e., ammonia-induced alternative sigma factor B-depending activation of genes for the alkaline shock protein 23, the heat shock response and the accessory gene regulator (agr)-controlled transcription of virulence factors. Exposure to serum transiently induced the transcription of distinct virulence factor encoding genes. Transcription of genes reported for mediating the loss of methicillin resistance, especially ccrC, was not significantly different compared to the unchallenged controls. We concluded that, from an evolutionary perspective, bacteria may save energy by incidentally dismissing a fully replicative SCCmec element in contrast to the induction of ccr genes on a population scale. Since the genomic SCCmec integration site is a hot-spot of recombination, occasional losses of elements of 16 kb size may restore capacities for the uptake of foreign genetic material. Subsequent spread of resistance, on the other hand, might depend on the autonomous replication machinery of the deleted SCCmec elements that probably enhance chances for reintegration of SCCmec into susceptible genomes by mere multiplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Huber
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS4), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silver A. Wolf
- Genome Sequencing and Genomic Epidemiology (MF2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wilma Ziebuhr
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mark A. Holmes
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Assmann
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS4), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antina Lübke-Becker
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Thürmer
- Genome Sequencing and Genomic Epidemiology (MF2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Semmler
- Genome Sequencing and Genomic Epidemiology (MF2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Brombach
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Astrid Bethe
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Bischoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Lothar H. Wieler
- Methodology and Research Infrastructure, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lennard Epping
- Genome Sequencing and Genomic Epidemiology (MF2), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Walther
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS4), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Birgit Walther,
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16
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First Genome-Based Characterisation and Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Production Ability of Methicillin-Susceptible and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Ready-to-Eat Foods in Algiers (Algeria). Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14110731. [PMID: 36355981 PMCID: PMC9694651 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14110731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic microorganism of humans and animals, able to cause foodborne intoxication due to the production of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) and to resist antibiotic treatment as in the case of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). In this study, we performed a genomic characterisation of 12 genetically diverse S. aureus strains isolated from ready-to-eat foods in Algiers (Algeria). Moreover, their ability to produce some classical and new staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) was investigated. The 12 S. aureus strains resulted to belong to nine known sequence types (STs) and to the novel ST7199 and ST7200. Furthermore, S. aureus SA46 was assigned to the European clone MRSA-ST80-SCCmec-IV. The 12 strains showed a wide endowment of se and sel (staphylococcal enterotoxin-like toxin) genes (sea, seb, sed, seg, seh, sei, selj, sek, sem, sen, seo, seq, ser, selu2, selw, selx, sey, sel30; ψent1-ψent2), including variants and pseudogenes, and harboured the enterotoxin gene cluster (egc) types 1 and 5. Additionally, they produced various amounts of SEA (64.54-345.02 ng/mL), SEB (2871.28-14739.17 ng/mL), SED (322.70-398.94 ng/mL), SEH (not detectable-239.48 ng/mL), and SER (36,720.10-63,176.06 ng/mL) depending on their genotypes. The genetic determinants related to their phenotypic resistance to β-lactams (blaZ, mecA), ofloxacin (gyrA-S84L), erythromycin (ermB), lincomycin (lmrS), kanamycin (aph(3')-III, ant(6)-I), and tetracyclin (tet(L), tet(38)) were also detected. A plethora of virulence-related genes, including major virulence genes such as the tst gene, determinant for the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, and the lukF-PV and lukS-PV genes, encoding the panton-valentine leukocidin (PVL), were present in the S. aureus strains, highlighting their pathogenic potential. Furthermore, a phylogenomic reconstruction including worldwide foodborne S. aureus showed a clear clustering based on ST and geographical origin rather than the source of isolation.
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17
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Jia N, Li G, Wang X, Cao Q, Chen W, Wang C, Chen L, Ma X, Zhang X, Tao Y, Zang J, Mo X, Hu J. Staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 10 induces necroptosis through TNFR1 activation of RIPK3-dependent signal pathways. Commun Biol 2022; 5:813. [PMID: 35962126 PMCID: PMC9374677 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03752-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcal aureus (S. aureus) infection can lead to a wide range of diseases such as sepsis and pneumonia. Staphylococcal superantigen-like (SSL) proteins, expressed by all known S. aureus strains, are shown to be involved in immune evasion during S. aureus infection. Here, we show that SSL10, an SSL family protein, exhibits potent cytotoxicity against human cells (HEK293T and HUVEC) by inducing necroptosis upon binding to its receptor TNFR1 on the cell membrane. After binding, two distinct signaling pathways are activated downstream of TNFR1 in a RIPK3-dependent manner, i.e., the RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL and RIPK3-CaMKII-mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) pathways. Knockout of ssl10 in S. aureus significantly reduces cytotoxicity of the culture supernatants of S. aureus, indicating that SSL10 is involved in extracellular cytotoxicity during infection. We determined the crystal structure of SSL10 at 1.9 Å resolution and identified a positively charged surface of SSL10 responsible for TNFR1 binding and cytotoxic activity. This study thus provides the description of cytotoxicity through induction of necroptosis by the SSL10 protein, and a potential target for clinical treatment of S. aureus-associated diseases. The Staphylococcal superantigen like protein 10 induces necroptosis in human cells through binding to TNFR1 by both the N- and C-terminal domains and activating RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL and RIPK3-CaMKII-mitochondrial permeability transition pore pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Jia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China.,The Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Guo Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Qing Cao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Wanbiao Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Chengliang Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Yue Tao
- The Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Jianye Zang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China.
| | - Xi Mo
- The Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Jinfeng Hu
- The Laboratory of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China. .,Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, China.
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18
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Kim G, Itoh S, Ito Y, Ohya S, Hida S. Identification of responsible amino acid residues in Staphylococcal superantigen-like 12 for the activation of mast cells. Genes Cells 2022; 27:559-567. [PMID: 35801715 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcal superantigen-like 12 (SSL12) is reported to evoke the degranulation in murine mast cells. The allelic variant of SSL12 in the genome of reference strain NCTC8325 induced the degranulation of murine mast cells, that of MRSA252 strain did not, nevertheless relatively high sequence similarity (82%). To identify responsible amino acid residues of SSL12 for mast cell activation, we created a series of domain swap mutants and amino acid substitution mutants between the active and inactive variants. The mutants that harbored oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding (OB)-fold domain of the active variant activated mast cells. The replacement at position 56 (L56F) in the OB-fold domain diminished the mast cell stimulatory activity, and the combinatorial substitutions L56F/K92E, L56F/D95S, and L56F/S100V abolished the stimulatory activities of the mutant that harbored OB-fold domain of the active variant and the intact active variant. These indicate that the responsive elements of SSL12 for mast cell activation are in the OB-fold of SSL12, and L56 would be an essential amino acid residue for the activation of mast cells. The findings would contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of SSL12 for mast cell activation and the development of toxoids preventing allergic inflammations associated with S. aureus. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwangdong Kim
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Saotomo Itoh
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuma Ito
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Susumu Ohya
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shigeaki Hida
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
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19
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Zhu H, Luo H, Zhong Q, Cao X, Gu S, Peng S, Xiao Y, Chen Y, Hang Y, Fang X, Zou S, Yu F, Hu L. Comparison of Molecular Characteristics Between Methicillin-Resistant and -Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates by Whole-Genome Sequencing. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:2949-2958. [PMID: 35706925 PMCID: PMC9190744 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s359654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) are great public health concern worldwide. To better understand S. aureus evolution and dissemination, we compared the molecular features of MSSA and MRSA isolates. Methods In this study, 74 MSSA and 102 MRSA non-duplicate isolates were recovered from clinical samples between 2016 and 2020. Molecular epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance determinants, and virulence gene profiles were carried out by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Results Twenty distinct sequence types were identified in MRSA isolates, with the most common being ST59, ST630, and ST338. The major genotypes of MSSA were ST188 and ST7. The toxin genes clfA, sek, and seq were significantly associated with MRSA, while splA/B, clfB, map, sdrC/D, and sem-sen-seo-seu were detected more frequently in MSSA isolates than MRSA (P < 0.05). The tst positive isolates were more commonly identified in CC1 and CC72, whereas lukE/D was mainly found in the CC7, CC15, CC88, and completely absent in CC59 clones. Conclusion Our results compared the genetic diversity between MRSA and MSSA strains, suggesting efforts to fight infections caused by MSSA need to be intensified due to MSSA isolates carrying wide range of virulence factors. Comparative epidemiological studies of large populations of MSSA and MRSA will be necessary in the future to understand how MSSA and MRSA populations may co-evolve and interact in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongying Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaoshi Zhong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingwei Cao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Shumin Gu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Suqin Peng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanping Xiao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhui Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaping Hang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueyao Fang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan Zou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangyou Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji UniversitySchool of Medicine, Shanghai, 200082, People's Republic of China
| | - Longhua Hu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
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20
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Khamesi F, Ehrampoush MH, Dad V, Jambarsang S, Ghaneian MT. Prevalence of MRSA as an Infectious Agent in Sanitary Swimming Pools and Jacuzzis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2022; 20:139-146. [PMID: 35669818 PMCID: PMC9163221 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-021-00761-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is considered resistant to beta-lactam antibiotic groups. Infection caused by this strain is more difficult to treat with antibiotics, and hence, it will be more dangerous. This study focused on detecting the mecA gene Staphylococcus in sanitary swimming pools and Jacuzzis in Yazd city, Iran (2019). Also, the relationship between methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the water quality standards has been investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS 60 samples were randomly collected in sterile bottles from 20 active pools and Jacuzzis. Quality parameters were analyzed by standard methods. Antibiotic resistance and the mecA gene's presence were detected by the disk diffusion and PCR method, respectively. RESULTS The results of this study showed that the resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolates was high against erythromycin (41.20%), tetracycline (35.10%), clindamycin (28.90%), and cefoxitin (25.80%). Out of 97 samples, 9 (25.80%) strains of Staphylococcus aureus were identified as MRSA, 30 samples (30.92%) showed multiple patterns of antibiotic resistance, and 9 samples (9.27%) carried the mecA gene. The results revealed that water quality has greatly impacted the mecA gene strain presence, especially microbial parameters. On the other hand, in the presence of mecA gene strains, the averages of microbial qualities were higher than standard in Jacuzzis; the latter finding was confirmed for swimming pools due to physicochemical parameters. CONCLUSION The number of reported sanitary water is increasing, and this study's results are useful examples of these findings. Therefore, a lack of careful and regular monitoring of swimming pools and Jacuzzis can lead to MSRA prevalence and outbreak sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Khamesi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hasan Ehrampoush
- Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Vali Dad
- Medical Microbiologist (Master of Science) Reference Laboratory of Water and Wastewater, Environment and Occupational Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Sara Jambarsang
- Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Ghaneian
- Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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21
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Le Huyen KB, Gonzalez CD, Pascreau G, Bordeau V, Cattoir V, Liu W, Bouloc P, Felden B, Chabelskaya S. A small regulatory RNA alters Staphylococcus aureus virulence by titrating RNAIII activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10644-10656. [PMID: 34554192 PMCID: PMC8501977 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic human and animal pathogen with an arsenal of virulence factors that are tightly regulated during bacterial infection. The latter is achieved through a sophisticated network of regulatory proteins and regulatory RNAs. Here, we describe the involvement of a novel prophage-carried small regulatory S. aureus RNA, SprY, in the control of virulence genes. An MS2-affinity purification assay reveals that SprY forms a complex in vivo with RNAIII, a major regulator of S. aureus virulence genes. SprY binds to the 13th stem-loop of RNAIII, a key functional region involved in the repression of multiple mRNA targets. mRNAs encoding the repressor of toxins Rot and the extracellular complement binding protein Ecb are among the targets whose expression is increased by SprY binding to RNAIII. Moreover, SprY decreases S. aureus hemolytic activity and virulence. Our results indicate that SprY titrates RNAIII activity by targeting a specific stem loop. Thus, we demonstrate that a prophage-encoded sRNA reduces the pathogenicity of S. aureus through RNA sponge activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Boi Le Huyen
- Inserm, BRM [Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine] - UMR_S 1230, 35033 Rennes, France
| | | | - Gaëtan Pascreau
- Inserm, BRM [Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine] - UMR_S 1230, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Valérie Bordeau
- Inserm, BRM [Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine] - UMR_S 1230, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Vincent Cattoir
- Inserm, BRM [Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine] - UMR_S 1230, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Wenfeng Liu
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Philippe Bouloc
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Brice Felden
- Inserm, BRM [Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine] - UMR_S 1230, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Svetlana Chabelskaya
- Inserm, BRM [Bacterial Regulatory RNAs and Medicine] - UMR_S 1230, 35033 Rennes, France
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22
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Mutua V, Gershwin LJ. A Review of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in Disease: Potential Anti-NETs Therapeutics. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2021; 61:194-211. [PMID: 32740860 PMCID: PMC7395212 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-020-08804-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 263] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Activated neutrophils release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in response to a variety of stimuli. NETosis is driven by protein-arginine deiminase type 4, with the release of intracellular granule components that function by capturing and destroying microbes, including viral, fungal, bacterial, and protozoal pathogens. The positive effects of pathogen control are countered by pro-inflammatory effects as demonstrated in a variety of diseases. Components of NETS are non-specific, and other than controlling microbes, they cause injury to surrounding tissue by themselves or by increasing the pro-inflammatory response. NETs can play a role in enhancement of the inflammation seen in autoimmune diseases including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosis. In addition, autoinflammatory diseases such as gout have been associated with NETosis. Inhibition of NETs may decrease the severity of many diseases improving survival. Herein, we describe NETosis in different diseases focusing on the detrimental effect of NETs and outline possible therapeutics that can be used to mitigate netosis. There is a need for more studies and clinical trials on these and other compounds that could prevent or destroy NETs, thereby decreasing damage to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Mutua
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Laurel J Gershwin
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA, USA
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23
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Tsuji T. [Modulation of Host Immune System by Staphylococcal Superantigen-like (SSL) Proteins]. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI 2021; 141:579-589. [PMID: 33790123 DOI: 10.1248/yakushi.20-00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen causing a wide range of infectious diseases in humans and animals. This bacterium secretes a variety of exoproteins, including toxins known as superantigens, such as toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) and enterotoxins. Staphylococcal superantigen-like (SSL) proteins are a family of exoproteins showing structural similarities with superantigens but no superantigenic activity. This family is composed of 14 members (SSL1-SSL14), and recent studies have revealed that these members exhibit various immunomodulatory activities: e.g., inhibition of antibody and complement functions, impairment of leukocyte trafficking, modulation of receptor functions, inappropriate activation of immunocytes, and inhibition of blood coagulation. These activities have been proposed to contribute to immune evasion of the bacteria. The interactions between SSL proteins and their target molecules in the host immune system and the pathophysiological roles of SSL proteins in the bacterial infections are reviewed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Tsuji
- Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.,Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University
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24
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Gómez P, Ruiz-Ripa L, Fernández-Fernández R, Gharsa H, Ben Slama K, Höfle U, Zarazaga M, Holmes MA, Torres C. Genomic Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus of the Lineage CC130, Including mecC-Carrying MRSA and MSSA Isolates Recovered of Animal, Human, and Environmental Origins. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:655994. [PMID: 33841383 PMCID: PMC8027229 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.655994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Most methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates harboring mecC gene belong to clonal complex CC130. This lineage has traditionally been regarded as animal-associated as it lacks the human specific immune evasion cluster (IEC), and has been recovered from a broad range of animal hosts. Nevertheless, sporadic mecC-MRSA human infections have been reported, with evidence of zoonotic transmission in some cases. The objective of this study was to investigate the whole-genome sequences of 18 S. aureus CC130 isolates [13 methicillin-resistant (mecC-MRSA) and five methicillin-susceptible (MSSA)] from different sequences types, obtained from a variety of host species and origins (human, livestock, wild birds and mammals, and water), and from different geographic locations, in order to identify characteristic markers and genomic features. Antibiotic resistance genes found among MRSA-CC130 were those associated with the SSCmecXI element. Most MRSA-CC130 strains carried a similar virulence gene profile. Additionally, six MRSA-CC130 possessed scn-sak and one MSSA-ST130 had lukMF'. The MSSA-ST700 strains were most divergent in their resistance and virulence genes. The pan-genome analysis showed that 29 genes were present solely in MRSA-CC130 (associated with SCCmecXI) and 21 among MSSA-CC130 isolates (associated with phages). The SCCmecXI, PBP3, GdpP, and AcrB were identical at the amino acid level in all strains, but some differences were found in PBP1, PBP2, PBP4, and YjbH proteins. An examination of the host markers showed that the 3' region of the bacteriophage φ3 was nearly identical to the reference sequence. Truncated hlb gene was also found in scn-negative strains (two of them carrying sak-type gene). The dtlB gene of wild rabbit isolates included novel mutations. The vwbp gene was found in the three MSSA-ST700 strains from small ruminants and in one MSSA-ST130 from a red deer; these strains also carried a scn-type gene, different from the human and equine variants. Finally, a phylogenetic analysis showed that the three MSSA-ST700 strains and the two MSSA-ST130 strains cluster separately from the remaining MRSA-CC130 strains with the etD2 gene as marker for the main lineage. The presence of the human IEC cluster in some mecC-MRSA-CC130 strains suggests that these isolates may have had a human origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Gómez
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Laura Ruiz-Ripa
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Rosa Fernández-Fernández
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Haythem Gharsa
- Laboratoire des Microorganismes et Biomolécules Actives, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Karim Ben Slama
- Laboratoire des Microorganismes et Biomolécules Actives, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Ursula Höfle
- Health and Biotechnology SaBio Research Group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Myriam Zarazaga
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Mark A. Holmes
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Carmen Torres
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
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25
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Evidence for the Dissemination to Humans of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 through the Pork Production Chain: A Study in a Portuguese Slaughterhouse. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8121892. [PMID: 33260448 PMCID: PMC7759831 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) ST398 was recovered from infections in humans exposed to animals, raising public health concerns. However, contact with food producing chain as a means of transmission of LA-MRSA to humans remains poorly understood. We aimed to assess if pork production chain is a source of MRSA ST398 for human colonization and infection. MRSA from live pigs, meat, the environment, and slaughterhouse workers were analyzed by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), spa, MLST typing, SNPs and for antibiotic resistance and virulence gene profiles. We compared core and accessory genomes of MRSA ST398 isolated from slaughterhouse and hospital. We detected MRSA ST398 (t011, t108, t1451) along the entire pork production chain (live pigs: 60%; equipment: 38%; meat: 23%) and in workers (40%). All MRSA ST398 were multidrug resistant, and the majority carried genes encoding biocide resistance and enterotoxins. We found 23 cross-transmission events between live pigs, meat, and workers (6–55 SNPs). MRSA ST398 from infection and slaughterhouse environment belonged to the same clonal type (ST398, t011, SCCmec V), but differed in 321–378 SNPs. Pork production chain can be a source of MRSA ST398 for colonization of human slaughterhouse workers, which can represent a risk of subsequent meat contamination and human infection.
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26
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Tromp AT, Zhao Y, Jongerius I, Heezius ECJM, Abrial P, Ruyken M, van Strijp JAG, de Haas CJC, Spaan AN, van Kessel KPM, Henry T, Haas PJA. Pre-existing antibody-mediated adverse effects prevent the clinical development of a bacterial anti-inflammatory protein. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm045534. [PMID: 32471891 PMCID: PMC7541340 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.045534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens have evolved to secrete strong anti-inflammatory proteins that target the immune system. It was long speculated whether these virulence factors could serve as therapeutics in diseases in which abnormal immune activation plays a role. We adopted the secreted chemotaxis inhibitory protein of Staphylococcus aureus (CHIPS) as a model virulence factor-based therapeutic agent for diseases in which C5AR1 stimulation plays an important role. We show that the administration of CHIPS in human C5AR1 knock-in mice successfully dampens C5a-mediated neutrophil migration during immune complex-initiated inflammation. Subsequent CHIPS toxicology studies in animal models were promising. However, during a small phase I trial, healthy human volunteers showed adverse effects directly after CHIPS administration. Subjects showed clinical signs of anaphylaxis with mild leukocytopenia and increased C-reactive protein concentrations, which are possibly related to the presence of relatively high circulating anti-CHIPS antibodies and suggest an inflammatory response. Even though our data in mice show CHIPS as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, safety issues in human subjects temper the use of CHIPS in its current form as a therapeutic candidate. The use of staphylococcal proteins, or other bacterial proteins, as therapeutics or immune-modulators in humans is severely hampered by pre-existing circulating antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelino T Tromp
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Yuxi Zhao
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ilse Jongerius
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Sanquin Research, Department of Immunopathology, 1006AD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik C J M Heezius
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pauline Abrial
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Maartje Ruyken
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jos A G van Strijp
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carla J C de Haas
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - András N Spaan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kok P M van Kessel
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Henry
- Sanquin Research, Department of Immunopathology, 1006AD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter-Jan A Haas
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
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27
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Mrochen DM, Fernandes de Oliveira LM, Raafat D, Holtfreter S. Staphylococcus aureus Host Tropism and Its Implications for Murine Infection Models. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7061. [PMID: 32992784 PMCID: PMC7582387 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a pathobiont of humans as well as a multitude of animal species. The high prevalence of multi-resistant and more virulent strains of S. aureus necessitates the development of new prevention and treatment strategies for S. aureus infection. Major advances towards understanding the pathogenesis of S. aureus diseases have been made using conventional mouse models, i.e., by infecting naïve laboratory mice with human-adapted S.aureus strains. However, the failure to transfer certain results obtained in these murine systems to humans highlights the limitations of such models. Indeed, numerous S. aureus vaccine candidates showed promising results in conventional mouse models but failed to offer protection in human clinical trials. These limitations arise not only from the widely discussed physiological differences between mice and humans, but also from the lack of attention that is paid to the specific interactions of S. aureus with its respective host. For instance, animal-derived S. aureus lineages show a high degree of host tropism and carry a repertoire of host-specific virulence and immune evasion factors. Mouse-adapted S.aureus strains, humanized mice, and microbiome-optimized mice are promising approaches to overcome these limitations and could improve transferability of animal experiments to human trials in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. Mrochen
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Strasse DZ 7, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (L.M.F.d.O.); (D.R.); (S.H.)
| | - Liliane M. Fernandes de Oliveira
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Strasse DZ 7, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (L.M.F.d.O.); (D.R.); (S.H.)
| | - Dina Raafat
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Strasse DZ 7, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (L.M.F.d.O.); (D.R.); (S.H.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, 21521 Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Silva Holtfreter
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Strasse DZ 7, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; (L.M.F.d.O.); (D.R.); (S.H.)
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Ruiz-Ripa L, Feßler AT, Hanke D, Eichhorn I, Azcona-Gutiérrez JM, Alonso CA, Pérez-Moreno MO, Aspiroz C, Bellés A, Schwarz S, Torres C. Mechanisms of Linezolid Resistance Among Clinical Staphylococcus spp. in Spain: Spread of Methicillin- and Linezolid-Resistant S. epidermidis ST2. Microb Drug Resist 2020; 27:145-153. [PMID: 32456543 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2020.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed at determining the mechanisms of linezolid resistance and the molecular characteristics of clinical Staphylococcus aureus (n = 2) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 15) isolates obtained from four Spanish hospitals. The detection of linezolid resistance mechanisms (mutations and acquisition of resistance genes) was performed by PCR/sequencing. The antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile was determined, and the isolates were typed by different molecular techniques. Moreover, the genetic environment of the cfr gene was determined by whole-genome sequencing. The cfr gene was detected in one methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) that also displayed the amino acid change Val118Ala in the ribosomal protein L4. The second S. aureus isolate was methicillin susceptible and showed different alterations in the ribosomal protein L4. All remaining linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 14) and Staphylococcus hominis isolates (n = 1) showed the mutation G2576T (n = 14) or C2534T (n = 1) in the 23S rRNA. Moreover, different amino acid changes were detected in the ribosomal proteins L3 and L4 in S. epidermidis isolates. All S. epidermidis isolates belonged to the multilocus sequence type ST2. Linezolid-resistant staphylococci (LRS) showed a multiresistance phenotype, including methicillin resistance that was detected in all isolates but one, and was mediated by the mecA gene. The cfr gene in the MRSA isolate was located together with the fexA gene on a conjugative 38,864 bp plasmid. Linezolid- and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis ST2 showing mutations in the 23S rRNA and in the ribosomal proteins L3 and L4 are spread among Spanish hospitals, whereas LRS carrying acquired linezolid resistance genes are rarely detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ruiz-Ripa
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Andrea T Feßler
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Hanke
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Inga Eichhorn
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Carmen Aspiroz
- Servicio Microbiología, Hospital Royo-Villanova, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alba Bellés
- Sección Microbiología, Hospital Universitari Arnau Vilanova, Lleida, Spain
| | - Stefan Schwarz
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carmen Torres
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
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29
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Marchetti M, De Bei O, Bettati S, Campanini B, Kovachka S, Gianquinto E, Spyrakis F, Ronda L. Iron Metabolism at the Interface between Host and Pathogen: From Nutritional Immunity to Antibacterial Development. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E2145. [PMID: 32245010 PMCID: PMC7139808 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutritional immunity is a form of innate immunity widespread in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The term refers to a rich repertoire of mechanisms set up by the host to inhibit bacterial proliferation by sequestering trace minerals (mainly iron, but also zinc and manganese). This strategy, selected by evolution, represents an effective front-line defense against pathogens and has thus inspired the exploitation of iron restriction in the development of innovative antimicrobials or enhancers of antimicrobial therapy. This review focuses on the mechanisms of nutritional immunity, the strategies adopted by opportunistic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus to circumvent it, and the impact of deletion mutants on the fitness, infectivity, and persistence inside the host. This information finally converges in an overview of the current development of inhibitors targeting the different stages of iron uptake, an as-yet unexploited target in the field of antistaphylococcal drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialaura Marchetti
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.M.); (S.B.)
| | - Omar De Bei
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (O.D.B.); (B.C.)
| | - Stefano Bettati
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.M.); (S.B.)
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Campanini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (O.D.B.); (B.C.)
| | - Sandra Kovachka
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.K.); (E.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Eleonora Gianquinto
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.K.); (E.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.K.); (E.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Luca Ronda
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.M.); (S.B.)
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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30
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Monistero V, Barberio A, Biscarini F, Cremonesi P, Castiglioni B, Graber HU, Bottini E, Ceballos-Marquez A, Kroemker V, Petzer IM, Pollera C, Santisteban C, Veiga Dos Santos M, Bronzo V, Piccinini R, Re G, Cocchi M, Moroni P. Different distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence profiles of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from clinical mastitis in six countries. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:3431-3446. [PMID: 32008788 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-17141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is recognized worldwide as one of the main contagious mastitis agents in cattle and can express a set of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence-associated genes that explain the wide range of outcomes of intramammary infections. Staphylococcus aureus strains are heterogeneous: their different resistance and virulence patterns, associated with host-level factors and treatment factors, are related to the severity of infection. The aim of this study was to determine phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility, occurrence of selected antimicrobial resistance genes and other virulence genes in 93 S. aureus strains isolated from clinical mastitis in 6 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy, the United States (New York State), and South Africa. These isolates were tested against a total of 16 drugs (amoxicillin-clavulanate, ampicillin, cefazolin, cefoperazone, cefquinome, enrofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, lincomycin, oxacillin, penicillin, rifampin, spiramycin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, tylosin) by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay, and examined for the presence of 6 antibiotic-resistance genes (blaZ, mecA, mecC, ermA, ermB, ermC) and 6 virulence-associated genes (scn, chp, sak, hla, hlb, sea) via PCR analysis. The phenotypic results of this study revealed the presence of 19.4% penicillin-resistant strains, whereas 22.6% of the strains were classified as having resistance (5.4%) or intermediate resistance (17.2%) to erythromycin. Most (96.8%) of the isolates were inhibited by cephalosporins, and all were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanate. Two strains (1 from Germany, 1 from Italy) were resistant to oxacillin and were positive for mecA. Among the other antimicrobial resistance genes, the most frequently detected was blaZ (46.2%), and 32.3% of the isolates were positive for erm genes: ermC (21.5%) and ermB (10.8%). The most prevalent virulence gene was hla (100%), followed by hlb (84.9%) and sea (65.6%). These results show a low prevalence of antibiotic multidrug resistance in S. aureus isolates, even if the detection of selected antimicrobial resistance genes did not always correspond with the occurrence of phenotypic antibiotic resistance; the immune evasion cluster gene prevalence was quite low in the samples analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Monistero
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Italy, 20133
| | - A Barberio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Sezione Territoriale di Padova, Legnaro (PD), Italy, 3020
| | - F Biscarini
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Lodi, Italy, 26900
| | - P Cremonesi
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Lodi, Italy, 26900
| | - B Castiglioni
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Lodi, Italy, 26900
| | - H U Graber
- Agroscope, Research Division, Food Microbial Systems, Bern, Switzerland, 3003
| | - E Bottini
- Laboratorio de Microbiologia Clinica y Experimental, Departamento de Sanidad Animal y Medicina Preventiva SAMP/CIVENTAN, Becaria CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (FCV, UNCPBA), Paraje Arroyo Seco S/N, Campus Universitario, CP 7000 Tandil, Argentina
| | - A Ceballos-Marquez
- Laboratorio de Calidad de Leche y Epidemiología Veterinaria (Grupo CLEV), Universidad de 6 Caldas, Manizales, 170003, Colombia
| | - V Kroemker
- Bioprocess Engineering-Faculty II, Microbiology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 30453 Hannover, Germany
| | - I M Petzer
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria, 0110, South Africa
| | - C Pollera
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Italy, 20133
| | - C Santisteban
- Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850
| | - M Veiga Dos Santos
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Pirassununga-SP 13635900, Brazil
| | - V Bronzo
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Italy, 20133
| | - R Piccinini
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Italy, 20133
| | - G Re
- Università degli Studi di Torino, Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Turin, Italy, 10085
| | - M Cocchi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Sezione Territoriale di Udine, Basaldella di Campoformido (UD), Italy, 33030
| | - P Moroni
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Italy, 20133; Quality Milk Production Services, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850.
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Zhao Y, van Woudenbergh E, Zhu J, Heck AJR, van Kessel KPM, de Haas CJC, Aerts PC, van Strijp JAG, McCarthy AJ. The Orphan Immune Receptor LILRB3 Modulates Fc Receptor-Mediated Functions of Neutrophils. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 204:954-966. [PMID: 31915259 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neutrophils are critical to the generation of effective immune responses and for killing invading microbes. Paired immune receptors provide important mechanisms to modulate neutrophil activation thresholds and effector functions. Expression of the leukocyte Ig-like receptor (LILR)A6 (ILT8/CD85b) and LILRB3 (ILT5/CD85a) paired-receptor system on human neutrophils has remained unclear because of the lack of specific molecular tools. Additionally, there is little known of their possible functions in neutrophil biology. The objective of this study was to characterize expression of LILRA6/LILRB3 receptors during human neutrophil differentiation and activation, and to assess their roles in modulating Fc receptor-mediated effector functions. LILRB3, but not LILRA6, was detected in human neutrophil lysates following immunoprecipitation by mass spectrometry. We demonstrate high LILRB3 expression on the surface of resting neutrophils and release from the surface following neutrophil activation. Surface expression was recapitulated in a human PLB-985 cell model of neutrophil-like differentiation. Continuous ligation of LILRB3 inhibited key IgA-mediated effector functions, including production of reactive oxygen species, phagocytic uptake, and microbial killing. This suggests that LILRB3 provides an important checkpoint to control human neutrophil activation and their antimicrobial effector functions during resting and early-activation stages of the neutrophil life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Zhao
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Institute for Immunology, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.,School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Esther van Woudenbergh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jing Zhu
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, University of Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, University of Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Netherlands Proteomics Center, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands; and
| | - Albert J R Heck
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, University of Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, University of Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Netherlands Proteomics Center, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands; and
| | - Kok P M van Kessel
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Carla J C de Haas
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Piet C Aerts
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jos A G van Strijp
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Alex J McCarthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands; .,MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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32
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Ji Y, Bolhuis A, Watson ML. Staphylococcus aureus products subvert the Burkholderia cenocepacia-induced inflammatory response in airway epithelial cells. J Med Microbiol 2019; 68:1813-1822. [PMID: 31674896 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Chronic pulmonary infection is associated with colonization with multiple micro-organisms but host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions are poorly understood.Aim. This study aims to investigate the differences in host responses to mono- and co-infection with S. aureus and B. cenocepacia in human airway epithelial cells.Methodology. We assessed the effect of co-infection with B. cenocepacia and S. aureus on host signalling and inflammatory responses in the human airway epithelial cell line 16HBE, using ELISA and western blot analysis.Results. The results show that B. cenocepacia activates MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathways, subsequently eliciting robust interleukin (IL)-8 production. However, when airway epithelial cells were co-treated with live B. cenocepacia bacteria and S. aureus supernatants (conditioned medium), the pro-inflammatory response was attenuated. This anti-inflammatory effect was widely exhibited in the S. aureus isolates tested and was mediated via reduced MAPK and NF-κB signalling, but not via IL-1 receptor or tumour necrosis factor receptor modulation. The staphylococcal effectors were characterized as small, heat-stable, non-proteinaceous and not cell wall-related factors.Conclusion. This study demonstrates for the first time the host response in a S. aureus/B. cenocepacia co-infection model and provides insight into a staphylococcal immune evasion mechanism, as well as a therapeutic intervention for excessive inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Ji
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Albert Bolhuis
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Malcolm L Watson
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
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33
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Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence, and Genetic Lineages of Staphylococci from Horses Destined for Human Consumption: High Detection of S. aureus Isolates of Lineage ST1640 and Those Carrying the lukPQ Gene. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9110900. [PMID: 31683871 PMCID: PMC6912640 DOI: 10.3390/ani9110900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Staphylococci are opportunistic pathogens which colonize humans and animals. Zoonotic transfer of staphylococcal species between domestic animals and humans is common and can occur through direct contact, the environment, and animal-derived food processing, implying a risk of the spread of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and virulence factors into different ecosystems. Our work aimed at studying the diversity of staphylococcal species in nasal and faecal samples of healthy horses intended for human consumption and their resistance and virulence determinants. Staphylococci were detected in 90% and 66% of nasal and faecal samples tested, respectively. Eight staphylococcal species were detected, with the most prevalent ones being Staphylococcus aureus (all isolates were methicillin-susceptible), Staphylococcus delphini, and Staphylococcus sciuri. The predominant S. aureus lineage, ST1640, is associated with horses for the first time in this study. S. aureus isolates, except those of lineage ST1640, produced equid-adapted leukocidin (LukPQ) and blocker of equine complement system activation (eqSCIN). The toxic shock syndrome toxin-encoding gene was also detected in some S. aureus isolates. Multidrug resistance was observed among S. sciuri isolates, but not among S. aureus. Measures of hygiene and control should be implemented during horse slaughter and meat processing. Abstract This work aimed to determine the frequency and diversity of Staphylococcus species carriage in horses intended for human consumption, as well as their resistance and virulence determinants. Eighty samples (30 nasal; 50 faecal) were recovered from 73 healthy horses in a Spanish slaughterhouse. The samples were cultured for staphylococci and methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) recovery. The phenotype/genotype of antimicrobial resistance was analysed for all isolates. The spa-type and sequence-type (ST) were determined in Staphylococcus aureus strains; moreover, the presence of virulence and host-adaptation genes (tst, eta, etb, pvl, lukPQ, scn-eq, and scn) was studied by PCR. Staphylococcus species were detected in 27/30 (90%) and 33/50 (66%) of nasal and faecal samples, respectively. Ninety isolates belonging to eight species were recovered, with predominance of S. aureus (n = 34), Staphylococcus delphini (n = 19), and Staphylococcus sciuri (n = 19). S. aureus strains were all methicillin-susceptible (MSSA), 28/34 were susceptible to all the antibiotics tested, and the remaining six showed resistance to (gene-detected) streptomycin (ant (6)-Ia), penicillin (blaZ), and trimetroprim/sulphametoxazole (SXT) (dfrA, dfrG). The lineage ST1640/t2559 was predominant (n = 21). The genes lukPQ and scn-eq were present in all but the ST1640 isolates. Three S. sciuri isolates were multidrug-resistant. Healthy horses in Spain seem to be a reservoir for virulent MSSA and the lineage ST1640, although the presence of the latter in horses is described for the first time in this study. Moreover, the equine-adapted leukocidin gene lukPQ is frequent among S. aureus strains. A large variety of staphylococcal species with low antibiotic resistance rate were also observed.
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Abstract
Staphylococci, and in particular Staphylococcus aureus, cause an extensive variety of infections in a range of hosts. The comprehensive analysis of staphylococcal genomes reveals mechanisms controlling the organism's biology, pathobiology, and dissemination. Whole-genome sequencing technologies led to a quantum leap in our understanding of bacterial genomes. The recent cost reduction of sequencing has resulted in unprecedented volumes of genomic information about S. aureus, one of the most sequenced bacterial species. Collecting, comparing, and interpreting big data is challenging, but fascinating insights have emerged. For example, it is becoming clearer which selective pressures staphylococci face in their habitats and which mechanisms allow this pathogen to adapt, survive, and spread. A key theme is the constant evolution of staphylococci as they alter their genome, exchange DNA, and adapt to new environments, leading to the emergence of increasingly successful, antibiotic-resistant, immune-evading, and host-adapted colonizers and pathogens. This article introduces the structure of staphylococcal genomes, details how genomes vary between strains, outlines the mechanisms of genetic variation, and describes the features of successful clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi A Lindsay
- St. George's, University of London, Institute of Infection and Immunity, London, United Kingdom
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35
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Rocha LS, Silva DM, Silva MP, Vidigal PMP, Silva JCF, Guerra ST, Ribeiro MG, Mendes TADO, Ribon ADOB. Comparative genomics of Staphylococcus aureus associated with subclinical and clinical bovine mastitis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220804. [PMID: 31390381 PMCID: PMC6685620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Many efforts have been made to understand the pathogenesis of bovine mastitis to reduce losses and promote animal welfare. Staphylococcus aureus may cause bovine clinical mastitis, but it is mainly associated with subclinical infection, which is usually persistent and can easily reoccur. Here, we conducted a comparative genomic analysis between strains of S. aureus causing subclinical infection (Sau170, 302, 1269, 1364), previously sequenced by our group, and two well-characterized strains causing clinical mastitis (N305 and RF122) to find differences that could be linked to mastitis outcome. A total of 146 virulence-associated genes were compared and no appreciable differences were found between the bacteria. However, several nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in genes present in the subclinical strains when compared to RF122 and N305, especially in genes encoding host immune evasion and surface proteins. The secreted and surface proteins predicted by in silico tools were compared through multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS), revealing a high degree of similarity among the strains. The comparison of orthologous genes by OrthoMCL identified a membrane transporter and a lipoprotein as exclusive of bacteria belonging to the subclinical and clinical groups, respectively. No hit was found in RF122 and N305 for the membrane transporter using BLAST algorithm. For the lipoprotein, sequences of Sau170, 302, 1269, and 1364 with identities between 68–73% were found in the MDS dataset. A conserved region found only in the lipoprotein genes of RF122 and N305 was used for primer design. Although the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on field isolates of S. aureus did not validate the findings for the transporter, the lipoprotein was able to separate the clinical from the subclinical isolates. These results show that sequence variation among bovine S. aureus, and not only the presence/absence of virulence factors, is an important aspect to consider when comparing isolates causing different mastitis outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lis S. Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Danielle M. Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Mônica P. Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | | | - José Cleydson F. Silva
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Interações Planta Praga/BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Simony T. Guerra
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, UNESP/Botucatu, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Márcio G. Ribeiro
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, UNESP/Botucatu, Botucatu, Brazil
| | | | - Andréa de O. B. Ribon
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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36
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Regulation of the Staphylococcal Superantigen-Like Protein 1 Gene of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Murine Abscesses. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11070391. [PMID: 31277443 PMCID: PMC6669464 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11070391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) causes substantial skin and soft tissue infections annually in the United States and expresses numerous virulence factors, including a family of toxins known as the staphylococcal superantigen-like (SSL) proteins. Many of the SSL protein structures have been determined and implicated in immune system avoidance, but the full scope that these proteins play in different infection contexts remains unknown and continues to warrant investigation. Analysis of ssl gene regulation may provide valuable information related to the function of these proteins. To determine the transcriptional regulation of the ssl1 gene of CA-MRSA strain MW2, an ssl1 promoter::lux fusion was constructed and transformed into S.aureus strains RN6390 and Newman. Resulting strains were grown in a defined minimal medium (DSM) broth and nutrient-rich brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth and expression was determined by luminescence. Transcription of ssl1 was up-regulated and occurred earlier during growth in DSM broth compared to BHI broth suggesting expression is regulated by nutrient availability. RN6390 and Newman strains containing the ssl1::lux fusion were also used to analyze regulation in vivo using a mouse abscess model of infection. A marked increase in ssl1 transcription occurred early during infection, suggesting SSL1 is important during early stages of infection, perhaps to avoid the immune system.
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Comprehensive Virulence Gene Profiling of Bovine Non- aureus Staphylococci Based on Whole-Genome Sequencing Data. mSystems 2019; 4:mSystems00098-18. [PMID: 30863792 PMCID: PMC6401416 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00098-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) are the most frequently isolated pathogens from milk in dairy cattle worldwide. The virulence factors (VFs) and mechanisms by which these bacteria cause udder infection are not fully known. We determined the distribution and associations of 191 VFs in 25 NAS species and investigated the relationship between VFs and disease. Although the overall number of VFs was not associated with disease severity, increasing numbers of toxin and host immune evasion genes specifically were associated with more severe disease outcomes. These findings suggest that the development of disease and the interactions of VFs with the host are complex and determined by the interplay of genes rather than just the presence of virulence genes. Together, our results provide foundational genetic knowledge to other researchers to design and conduct further experiments, focusing on understanding the synergy between VFs and roles of individual NAS species in IMI and characterizing species-specific effects on udder health. Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) are the most frequently isolated pathogens from intramammary infection (IMI) in dairy cattle. Virulence factors (VFs) and mechanisms by which NAS cause IMI are not fully known. Herein, we analyzed the distribution of 191 VFs in 441 genomes of 25 NAS species, after classifying VFs into functional categories: adherence (n = 28), exoenzymes (n = 21), immune evasion (n = 20), iron metabolism (n = 29), and toxins (n = 93). In addition to establishing VF gene profiles, associations of VF genes between and among functional categories were computed, revealing distinctive patterns of association among VFs for various NAS species. Associations were also computed for low, medium, and high somatic cell count (SCC) and clinical mastitis (CM) isolates, demonstrating distinctive patterns of associations for low SCC and CM isolates, but no differences between high SCC and CM isolates. To determine whether VF distributions had any association with SCC or CM, various clustering approaches, including complete linkages, Ward clustering, and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding, were applied. However, no clustering of isolates representing low SCC, medium SCC, or high SCC or CM was identified. Regression analysis to test for associations with individual VF functional categories demonstrated that each additional toxin and host immune evasion gene increased the odds of having high SCC or CM, although an overall increase in the number of VFs was not associated with increased SCC or occurrence of CM. In conclusion, we established comprehensive VF gene profiling, determined VF gene distributions and associations, calculated pathogenic potentials of all NAS species, and detected no clear link between VF genes and mastitis. IMPORTANCE Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) are the most frequently isolated pathogens from milk in dairy cattle worldwide. The virulence factors (VFs) and mechanisms by which these bacteria cause udder infection are not fully known. We determined the distribution and associations of 191 VFs in 25 NAS species and investigated the relationship between VFs and disease. Although the overall number of VFs was not associated with disease severity, increasing numbers of toxin and host immune evasion genes specifically were associated with more severe disease outcomes. These findings suggest that the development of disease and the interactions of VFs with the host are complex and determined by the interplay of genes rather than just the presence of virulence genes. Together, our results provide foundational genetic knowledge to other researchers to design and conduct further experiments, focusing on understanding the synergy between VFs and roles of individual NAS species in IMI and characterizing species-specific effects on udder health.
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Tam K, Torres VJ. Staphylococcus aureus Secreted Toxins and Extracellular Enzymes. Microbiol Spectr 2019; 7:10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0039-2018. [PMID: 30873936 PMCID: PMC6422052 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0039-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a formidable pathogen capable of causing infections in different sites of the body in a variety of vertebrate animals, including humans and livestock. A major contribution to the success of S. aureus as a pathogen is the plethora of virulence factors that manipulate the host's innate and adaptive immune responses. Many of these immune modulating virulence factors are secreted toxins, cofactors for activating host zymogens, and exoenzymes. Secreted toxins such as pore-forming toxins and superantigens are highly inflammatory and can cause leukocyte cell death by cytolysis and clonal deletion, respectively. Coagulases and staphylokinases are cofactors that hijack the host's coagulation system. Exoenzymes, including nucleases and proteases, cleave and inactivate various immune defense and surveillance molecules, such as complement factors, antimicrobial peptides, and surface receptors that are important for leukocyte chemotaxis. Additionally, some of these secreted toxins and exoenzymes can cause disruption of endothelial and epithelial barriers through cell lysis and cleavage of junction proteins. A unique feature when examining the repertoire of S. aureus secreted virulence factors is the apparent functional redundancy exhibited by the majority of the toxins and exoenzymes. However, closer examination of each virulence factor revealed that each has unique properties that have important functional consequences. This chapter provides a brief overview of our current understanding of the major secreted virulence factors critical for S. aureus pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayan Tam
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria Center for Life Science, New York, NY 10016
| | - Victor J Torres
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria Center for Life Science, New York, NY 10016
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Kobayashi M, Kitano T, Nishiyama S, Sanjo H, Onozaki K, Taki S, Itoh S, Hida S. Staphylococcal superantigen-like 12 activates murine bone marrow derived mast cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 511:350-355. [PMID: 30795864 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.02.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcal superantigen-like (SSL) protein is a family of exotoxins that consists of 14 SSLs, and the roles of several SSLs in immune evasion of the cocci have been revealed. However little is known whether they act as immune activators and are involved in inflammatory disorders such as atopic dermatitis. In this study we examined whether SSLs activate mast cells, the key player of local inflammation. SSL12 evoked the release of a granule enzyme β-hexosaminidase from bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMCs) in the absence of IgE. The release of the granule enzyme caused by SSL12 was not accompanied with the leakage of a cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), unlike staphylococcal δ-toxin that was reported to induce both the release of β-hexosaminidase and the leakage of LDH from the cells, suggesting that SSL12 evokes the degranulation of mast cells without cell membrane damage. Furthermore SSL12 induced IL-6 and IL-13 in both mRNA and protein levels indicating that SSL12 induces de novo synthesis of the cytokines. Evans blue extravasation was elevated by the intradermal injection of SSL12, suggesting that SSL12 is also able to evoke local inflammation in vivo. These findings indicate the novel mast cell activating activity of SSLs, and SSL12 is likely an important factor in both initiation phase and effector phase of allergic and immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Kobayashi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-Dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Takuma Kitano
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-Dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Saishi Nishiyama
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-Dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Hideki Sanjo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, School of Medicine Shinshu University, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan
| | - Kikuo Onozaki
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-Dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Taki
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, School of Medicine Shinshu University, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan
| | - Saotomo Itoh
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-Dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan.
| | - Shigeaki Hida
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Health Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-Dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan
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40
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Kolonitsiou F, Papadimitriou-Olivgeris M, Spiliopoulou A, Drougka E, Jelastopulu E, Anastassiou ED, Spiliopoulou I. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST80 Induce Lower Cytokine Production by Monocytes as Compared to Other Sequence Types. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3310. [PMID: 30687287 PMCID: PMC6333658 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains an important cause of nosocomial and community-associated infections due to its ability to produce toxins and evade host's immune responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of monocytes immune response in terms of cytokines produced after inoculation with different MRSA clones. Thirty-one clinical MRSA strains were selected on the basis of clonal types, accessory gene regulator (agr) groups and toxin genes carriage. Isolates were identified as S. aureus by Gram stain, catalase, coagulase production and PCR for nuc gene. The presence of mecA, lukS/lukF-PV (Panton-Valentine Leukocidin) and tst (Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1) genes, as well as, the determination of agr groups was performed by PCR. Clonality was investigated by means of multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with live bacterial cells for 45 min at a ratio of 1:10. Cells were incubated for 10 h and supernatants were collected. The levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFa), IL-1b, IL-8, IL-6, IL-12p40, IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-2, were measured by Human Cytokine Multiplex Immunoassay kit. Thirteen strains were tst and 12 lukS/lukF-PV-positive. Seven strains belonged to ST80 and ST225, five to ST30 and ST239, while the remaining seven isolates were grouped together as "other." Strains belonging to ST80 induced statistically lower levels of TNFa, IL-1b, IL-8, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-2. PVL-positive strains classified into ST80 clone induced statistically lower concentrations of most cytokines as compared to PVL-positive strains belonging to other clones, tst-positive strains and toxin-negative ones. Strains of agr3 group belonging to ST80 induced statistically lower concentrations of most tested cytokines as compared to agr3 strains not-belonging to ST80, agr2 or agr1. This low induction of immune response by MRSA ST80 cannot be attributed to the presence of neither lukS/lukF-PV nor agr3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fevronia Kolonitsiou
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | | | | | - Eleanna Drougka
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Eleni Jelastopulu
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | | | - Iris Spiliopoulou
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
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41
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Tang A, Caballero AR, Bierdeman MA, Marquart ME, Foster TJ, Monk IR, O'Callaghan RJ. Staphylococcus aureus Superantigen-Like Protein SSL1: A Toxic Protease. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8010002. [PMID: 30609641 PMCID: PMC6471365 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of corneal infections that can cause reduced vision, even blindness. Secreted toxins cause tissue damage and inflammation resulting in scars that lead to vision loss. Identifying tissue damaging proteins is a prerequisite to limiting these harmful reactions. The present study characterized a previously unrecognized S. aureus toxin. This secreted toxin was purified from strain Newman ΔhlaΔhlg, the N-terminal sequence determined, the gene cloned, and the purified recombinant protein was tested in the rabbit cornea. The virulence of a toxin deletion mutant was compared to its parent and the mutant after gene restoration (rescue strain). The toxin (23 kDa) had an N-terminal sequence matching the Newman superantigen-like protein SSL1. An SSL1 homodimer (46 kDa) had proteolytic activity as demonstrated by zymography and cleavage of a synthetic substrate, collagens, and cytokines (IL-17A, IFN-γ, and IL-8); the protease was susceptible to serine protease inhibitors. As compared to the parent and rescue strains, the ssl1 mutant had significantly reduced virulence, but not reduced bacterial growth, in vivo. The ocular isolates tested had the ssl1 gene, with allele type 2 being the predominant type. SSL1 is a protease with corneal virulence and activity on host defense and structural proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aihua Tang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
| | - Armando R Caballero
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
| | - Michael A Bierdeman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
| | - Mary E Marquart
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
| | - Timothy J Foster
- Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland.
| | - Ian R Monk
- Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, 3000 Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Richard J O'Callaghan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
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42
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Koymans KJ, Feitsma LJ, Bisschop A, Huizinga EG, van Strijp JAG, de Haas CJC, McCarthy AJ. Molecular basis determining species specificity for TLR2 inhibition by staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 3 (SSL3). Vet Res 2018; 49:115. [PMID: 30486901 PMCID: PMC6263051 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-018-0609-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile opportunistic pathogen, causing disease in human and animal species. Its pathogenicity is linked to the ability of S. aureus to secrete immunomodulatory molecules. These evasion proteins bind to host receptors or their ligands, resulting in inhibitory effects through high affinity protein–protein interactions. Staphylococcal evasion molecules are often species-specific due to differences in host target proteins between species. We recently solved the crystal structure of murine TLR2 in complex with immunomodulatory molecule staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 3 (SSL3), which revealed the essential residues within SSL3 for TLR2 inhibition. In this study we aimed to investigate the molecular basis of the interaction on the TLR2 side. The SSL3 binding region on murine TLR2 was compared to that of other species through sequence alignment and homology modeling, which identified interspecies differences. To examine whether this resulted in altered SSL3 activity on the corresponding TLR2s, bovine, equine, human, and murine TLR2 were stably expressed in HEK293T cells and the ability of SSL3 to inhibit TLR2 was assessed. We found that SSL3 was unable to inhibit bovine TLR2. Subsequent loss and gain of function mutagenesis showed that the lack of inhibition is explained by the absence of two tyrosine residues in bovine TLR2 that play a prominent role in the SSL3–TLR2 interface. We found no evidence for the existence of allelic SSL3 variants that have adapted to the bovine host. Thus, within this paper we reveal the molecular determinants of the TLR2–SSL3 interaction which adds to our understanding of staphylococcal host specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten J Koymans
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Louris J Feitsma
- Crystal and Structural Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Adinda Bisschop
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eric G Huizinga
- Crystal and Structural Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jos A G van Strijp
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carla J C de Haas
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alex J McCarthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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43
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Gerlach D, Guo Y, De Castro C, Kim SH, Schlatterer K, Xu FF, Pereira C, Seeberger PH, Ali S, Codée J, Sirisarn W, Schulte B, Wolz C, Larsen J, Molinaro A, Lee BL, Xia G, Stehle T, Peschel A. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus alters cell wall glycosylation to evade immunity. Nature 2018; 563:705-709. [PMID: 30464342 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0730-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent cause of difficult-to-treat, often fatal infections in humans1,2. Most humans have antibodies against S. aureus, but these are highly variable and often not protective in immunocompromised patients3. Previous vaccine development programs have not been successful4. A large percentage of human antibodies against S. aureus target wall teichoic acid (WTA), a ribitol-phosphate (RboP) surface polymer modified with N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)5,6. It is currently unknown whether the immune evasion capacities of MRSA are due to variation of dominant surface epitopes such as those associated with WTA. Here we show that a considerable proportion of the prominent healthcare-associated and livestock-associated MRSA clones CC5 and CC398, respectively, contain prophages that encode an alternative WTA glycosyltransferase. This enzyme, TarP, transfers GlcNAc to a different hydroxyl group of the WTA RboP than the standard enzyme TarS7, with important consequences for immune recognition. TarP-glycosylated WTA elicits 7.5-40-fold lower levels of immunoglobulin G in mice than TarS-modified WTA. Consistent with this, human sera contained only low levels of antibodies against TarP-modified WTA. Notably, mice immunized with TarS-modified WTA were not protected against infection with tarP-expressing MRSA, indicating that TarP is crucial for the capacity of S. aureus to evade host defences. High-resolution structural analyses of TarP bound to WTA components and uridine diphosphate GlcNAc (UDP-GlcNAc) explain the mechanism of altered RboP glycosylation and form a template for targeted inhibition of TarP. Our study reveals an immune evasion strategy of S. aureus based on averting the immunogenicity of its dominant glycoantigen WTA. These results will help with the identification of invariant S. aureus vaccine antigens and may enable the development of TarP inhibitors as a new strategy for rendering MRSA susceptible to human host defences.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gerlach
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yinglan Guo
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Cristina De Castro
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Sun-Hwa Kim
- National Research Laboratory of Defense Proteins, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea
| | - Katja Schlatterer
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Fei-Fei Xu
- Max-Planck-Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Claney Pereira
- Max-Planck-Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Sara Ali
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Codée
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Wanchat Sirisarn
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Berit Schulte
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Medical Microbiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christiane Wolz
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Medical Microbiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jesper Larsen
- Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Antonio Molinaro
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Bok Luel Lee
- National Research Laboratory of Defense Proteins, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea
| | - Guoqing Xia
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Thilo Stehle
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. .,Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Andreas Peschel
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Zhao Y, van Kessel KPM, de Haas CJC, Rogers MRC, van Strijp JAG, Haas PA. Staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 13 activates neutrophils via formyl peptide receptor 2. Cell Microbiol 2018; 20:e12941. [PMID: 30098280 PMCID: PMC6220968 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcal superantigen-like (SSL) proteins, one of the major virulence factor families produced by Staphylococcus aureus, were previously demonstrated to be immune evasion molecules that interfere with a variety of innate immune defences. However, in contrast to characterised SSLs, which inhibit immune functions, we show that SSL13 is a strong activator of neutrophils via the formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2). Moreover, our data show that SSL13 acts as a chemoattractant and induces degranulation and oxidative burst in neutrophils. As with many other staphylococcal immune evasion proteins, SSL13 shows a high degree of human specificity. SSL13 is not able to efficiently activate mouse neutrophils, hampering in vivo experiments. In conclusion, SSL13 is a neutrophil chemoattractant and activator that acts via FPR2. Therefore, SSL13 is a unique SSL member that does not belong to the immune evasion class but is a pathogen alarming molecule. Our study provides a new concept of SSLs; SSLs not only inhibit host immune processes but also recruit human neutrophils to the site of infection. This new insight allows us to better understand complex interactions between host and S. aureus pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Zhao
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Kok P. M. van Kessel
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Carla J. C. de Haas
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Malbert R. C. Rogers
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jos A. G. van Strijp
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Pieter‐Jan A. Haas
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
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45
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Oku T, Soma H, Kurisaka C, Tsuji T. Generation of a Monoclonal Antibody Against Staphylococcal Superantigen-Like Protein 5 (SSL5) That Discriminates SSL5 from Other SSL Proteins. Monoclon Antib Immunodiagn Immunother 2018; 37:212-217. [PMID: 30362929 DOI: 10.1089/mab.2018.0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus secretes a family of exoproteins structurally homologous to bacterial superantigens, such as toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), and those exoproteins are thus called staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs). Recent studies have revealed that SSLs play roles in evasion of the host defense by disturbing host immune responses. We previously reported that staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 5 (SSL5; a member of the SSL family) inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), which is crucial for leukocyte recruitment to sites of infection. In this study, we established a mouse hybridoma clone (30G5C) producing a monoclonal antibody specific for SSL5. In immunoblotting analysis using recombinant His-tagged SSL1 to SSL14 (His-SSLs), the antibody was found to specifically recognize SSL5 without crossreactivity with other His-SSLs. The antibody bound to the C-terminal region of SSL5 (β-grasp domain), but did not interfere with the binding of SSL5 to MMP-9, suggesting that this antibody is useful for identification of SSL5-producing S. aureus and screening for inhibitors of the SSL5/MMP-9 complex formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruaki Oku
- Department of Microbiology, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hikari Soma
- Department of Microbiology, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chisato Kurisaka
- Department of Microbiology, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Tsuji
- Department of Microbiology, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Tokyo, Japan
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46
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Walther B, Klein KS, Barton AK, Semmler T, Huber C, Merle R, Tedin K, Mitrach F, Lübke-Becker A, Gehlen H. Equine Methicillin-Resistant Sequence Type 398 Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Harbor Mobile Genetic Elements Promoting Host Adaptation. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2516. [PMID: 30405574 PMCID: PMC6207647 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Continuing introduction of multi-drug resistant, zoonotic pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in horse clinics challenges the biosafety of employees and animal patients. This study was aimed to determine the occurrence of mobile genetic elements facilitating survival in the early stages of invasive infection in different host species, including humans and horses, in MRSA carried by equine patients admitted to a large horse clinic. A total of 341 equine patients were investigated for carriage of MRSA by hygiene screening directly at hospital admission. MRSA were further investigated by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing and genomic composition, including virulence factors involved in immune evasion and host adaption. From a total of 340 validated specimens from equine nostrils, 3.5% yielded positive results for MRSA. All MRSA were found to be closely related belonging to sequence type (ST) 398_t011 with up to four additional antimicrobial resistances. All MRSA harbored a specific Staphylococcal Pathogenicity Island (SaPIbov5) involved in facilitating survival in ruminant and equine plasma. Moreover, a β-hemolysin (hlb) converting ΦSa3 phage encoding the human-specific Immune Evasion Cluster (IEC) was present in 72% of the isolates. An equid-specific leukotoxin encoded by a further temperate phage (Saeq1) was only rarely detected (22%). Despite the absence of β-hemolysin production for all IEC-positive ST398, a prominent hemolysis zone was demonstrable on sheep blood agar. Thus, IEC might remain undetected among the ST398 lineage, since the presence of IEC is commonly associated with reduction of hemolysis in S. aureus belonging to other genetic backgrounds. Here we describe MRSA-ST398 harboring different mobile genetic elements encoding variants of immune evasion factors and toxins previously shown to contribute to S. aureus invasive diseases in specific host species or ecologic niches. We suggest these combinations contribute to the adaptation of MRSA belonging to ST398 with respect to epidemic spread across different habitats and hosts, and may therefore confer a host “generalist” phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Walther
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS4), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katja-Sophia Klein
- Equine Clinic, Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ann-Kristin Barton
- Equine Clinic, Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Semmler
- Microbial Genomics (NG1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Charlotte Huber
- Microbial Genomics (NG1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roswitha Merle
- Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karsten Tedin
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Mitrach
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Sciences, Institute of Biotechnology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany
| | - Antina Lübke-Becker
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heidrun Gehlen
- Equine Clinic, Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Prevalence and Genomic Structure of Bacteriophage phi3 in Human-Derived Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from 2000 to 2015. J Clin Microbiol 2018; 56:JCM.00140-18. [PMID: 29976589 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00140-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Whereas the emergence of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) clonal complex 398 (CC398) in animal husbandry and its transmission to humans are well documented, less is known about factors driving the epidemic spread of this zoonotic lineage within the human population. One factor could be the bacteriophage phi3, which is rarely detected in S. aureus isolates from animals but commonly found among isolates from humans, including those of the human-adapted methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) CC398 clade. The proportion of phi3-carrying MRSA spa-CC011 isolates, which constitute presumptively LA-MRSA within the multilocus sequence type (MLST) clonal complex 398, was systematically assessed for a period of 16 years to investigate the role of phi3 in the adaptation process of LA-MRSA to the human host. For this purpose, 632 MRSA spa-CC011 isolates from patients of a university hospital located in a pig farming-dense area in Germany were analyzed. Livestock-associated acquisition of MRSA spa-CC011 was previously reported as having increased from 1.8% in 2000 to 29.4% in 2014 in MRSA-positive patients admitted to this hospital. However, in this study, the proportion of phi3-carrying isolates rose only from 1.1% (2000 to 2006) to 3.9% (2007 to 2015). Characterization of the phi3 genomes revealed 12 different phage types ranging in size from 40,712 kb up to 44,003 kb, with four hitherto unknown integration sites (genes or intergenic regions) and several modified bacterial attachment (attB) sites. In contrast to the MSSA CC398 clade, phi3 acquisition seems to be no major driver for the readaptation of MRSA spa-CC011 to the human host.
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He C, Xu S, Zhao H, Hu F, Xu X, Jin S, Yang H, Gong F, Liu Q. Leukotoxin and pyrogenic toxin Superantigen gene backgrounds in bloodstream and wound Staphylococcus aureus isolates from eastern region of China. BMC Infect Dis 2018; 18:395. [PMID: 30103694 PMCID: PMC6090790 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-018-3297-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The bicomponent leukotoxins and the pyrogenic toxin superantigens (PTSAgs) are important virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus. It is necessary to survey the prevalence and expression of these toxin-encoding genes for understanding the possible pathogenic capacity of S. aureus to cause disease. Methods Five leukotoxin genes and thirteen PTSAg determinants were detected for 177 S. aureus isolates from blood (n = 88) and wound (n = 89) infections by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The expression of leukotoxin ED (lukED) was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The genetic backgrounds of isolates were analyzed by Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing (for methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates), Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), accessory gene regulator (agr) typing and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST, for representative isolates based on PFGE type) methods. Results 99.4% (176/177) isolates contained at least one of leukotoxin genes. Among them, 94.9% (168/177), 81.4% (144/177) and 67.8% (120/177) isolates harbored hlgBC, lukED and lukAB, respectively. Compared to leukotoxin genes, there was a relatively lower overall prevalence of PTSAg genes [99.4% versus 72.9% (129/177), P < 0.001], and they were organized in 59 patterns, with the most common combination of the egc cluster with or without other PTSAg genes. Genetic analysis showed the distributions of certain toxin genes were associated with the genetic backgrounds of isolates. The egc cluster was a common feature of CC5 isolates, among which ST5 and ST764 isolates harbored more PTSAg genes. The lukED was not present in ST398 isolates, and its expression was quite different among isolates. No significant correlations were observed between the lukED expression levels of strains and the ST or agr types. Conclusions The present study elucidated the distribution of leukotoxin and PTSAg genes and the expression of lukED in blood and wound isolates, and analyzed the relationship between them with genetic characteristics of isolates. These data improve the current understanding of the possible pathogenicity of S. aureus. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-018-3297-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan He
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Su Xu
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Huanqiang Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Fupin Hu
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Xiaogang Xu
- Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Shu Jin
- Experimental Research Center, Shanghai People's Hospital of Putuo District, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Han Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Fang Gong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Wuxi, 226000, China
| | - Qingzhong Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China.
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Lee AS, de Lencastre H, Garau J, Kluytmans J, Malhotra-Kumar S, Peschel A, Harbarth S. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2018; 4:18033. [PMID: 29849094 DOI: 10.1038/nrdp.2018.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 736] [Impact Index Per Article: 122.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Since the 1960s, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged, disseminated globally and become a leading cause of bacterial infections in both health-care and community settings. However, there is marked geographical variation in MRSA burden owing to several factors, including differences in local infection control practices and pathogen-specific characteristics of the circulating clones. Different MRSA clones have resulted from the independent acquisition of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), which contains genes encoding proteins that render the bacterium resistant to most β-lactam antibiotics (such as methicillin), by several S. aureus clones. The success of MRSA is a consequence of the extensive arsenal of virulence factors produced by S. aureus combined with β-lactam resistance and, for most clones, resistance to other antibiotic classes. Clinical manifestations of MRSA range from asymptomatic colonization of the nasal mucosa to mild skin and soft tissue infections to fulminant invasive disease with high mortality. Although treatment options for MRSA are limited, several new antimicrobials are under development. An understanding of colonization dynamics, routes of transmission, risk factors for progression to infection and conditions that promote the emergence of resistance will enable optimization of strategies to effectively control MRSA. Vaccine candidates are also under development and could become an effective prevention measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andie S Lee
- Departments of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hermínia de Lencastre
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.,Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Javier Garau
- Department of Medicine, Hospital Universitari Mutua de Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jan Kluytmans
- Department of Infection Control, Amphia Hospital, Breda, Netherlands.,Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Surbhi Malhotra-Kumar
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, Universiteit Antwerpen, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Andreas Peschel
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Infection Biology Department, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Harbarth
- Infection Control Programme, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, WHO Collaborating Center, Geneva, Switzerland
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50
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Lin J, Liang J, Zhang T, Bai C, Ye J, Yao Z. Dose-response associations of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between school environmental contamination and nasal carriage by elementary students. Infect Drug Resist 2018; 11:773-782. [PMID: 29872327 PMCID: PMC5973408 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s166143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can cause serious infections in elementary students. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the quantitative associations of school environmental contamination with nasal carriage of MRSA by students in a dose-response manner. Phenotypic and molecular characterizations were performed to further assess the associations. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2016 in eight elementary schools in Guangzhou, China. A multistage stratified cluster sampling design was used to include Chinese students and selected classes. Nasal swabs from students and environmental swabs from the schools were collected. The dose-response relationship was examined using multivariate logistic regression modeling with cluster-correlated robust variance estimates to account for correlations of isolates between the environment and the students. Results The prevalence rates of MRSA among 1705 students and 1240 environment samples were 10.15% and 3.87%, respectively. There were positive prevalence associations of school (odds ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–1.13) and class (odds ratio 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.06) environmental contamination with nasal carriage of MRSA isolates by students. Conclusions Comparisons of MRSA isolates between the environment and the students in terms of phenotypic and molecular characterization were mostly insignificant. School environmental contamination with MRSA was positively associated with MRSA nasal carriage by elementary students. Disinfection measures and education regarding hand hygiene should be considered to decrease the prevalence of MRSA nasal carriage among students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialing Lin
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianping Liang
- Department of Health Education, Guangzhou Primary and Secondary School Health Promotion Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chan Bai
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaping Ye
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenjiang Yao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
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